Self-cooling buffing wheel



April 7, 1953 s. GOLDBERG 2,633,680

'i SELF-COOLING BUFFING WHEEL Filed oct. 2o, 1948 2 SHEETS- SHEET 2 Samzze Goldberg Patented Apr. 7, 1953 UNITED STAT ES PAT ENT 0 F -'Fl-(1E 'SEEE-COOLING BUFFING WHEEL Samuel Goldberg, Detroit,.M.ch.

" vApplication Gotober 20, 1948,?{Seriall No. '55,560

4 Claims. 1

:This :invention relates :to .bufngrwheels land other :similar .devices :used for abrading purposes. .More particularly, this invention .relates to `'a new -and improved :Ventilating and .cooling structure for embodimentpingabrading devices.

- Conventional :buing wheel .fabrication Acon- :sists of building -up a. wheel from .laminated discs or fabric sections and .connecting thereto a series of layers lor spires of lfibrous material. In operai'tion, an abrading compound is ,frequently applied to .the bufng imaterial *to assist in .cutting or polishing .the kwork material.

`Because of the .density and yheat--retai-nin-g properties of the fibrous Ymaterials used, ,bufling wheels `must be ventilated and cooled so as to lprevent them from running hot since it ris =well ,known that fibres 4lose their tensile strength when they become ,over-heated and disintegrate ,quite rapidly thereafter. Also, the melting point .of the .abrading .compounds -used frequently lies atsomepoint below ,150F., therefore, it fishighly desirable .to keep the abrading. compound "from .liquifyingin ,order vthat the compoundsretains its normal .abrasive properties.

In Yproviding for the .ventilation and `cooling .of .bufling Wheels, .thoseversed in `,the :arthave -re- Psorted to .several .Well known procedures. Thus, itis-seen to .bean oldestablished .practice torconstruct` va wheel with van .assembly .of comm-unieating-.radially and axiallyeX-tending air passages .for Ithe'flow of cooling airthroughsuch passages during ,normal ,rotation .of the wheel assembly.

Designs .of buing wheel structures, as practiced in the na1thave.been inadequate, however,

"because air circulation through the passages to 4the gperipheralisur'face of the "buing wheel vhas y'beerfsolely dependent on an inappreciable .presfsure `gradient vbetween .the ambient Vair .and Ythe air'w'ithin thewheelstructure or on the centrifugal thrust imparted to the .confined Yair itself by :the rrotating structure.

These designs have also been impractical .be- Loause the pressure. gradient attained. .in standard 'practice ,has actually been far Atoo small to be effective in forcing a ow .of vair .through acornv paratively dense -buffing fabric.

According to thepresent invention, it has :been discovered that ,if in ,thejabrication of `the `buiingY wheel, ,the spacer plates oomprisinga `center. core ,are provided with .radially .disposed louvres comprising, 'in eiectnal .pumps -in .addition to ,provid- 'ing vmeans for scoopingand directing a .flow .of 'air into the interiorof the Wheel structure, great- Y1y improved .operating characteristics will be manifested.

. It3has .been-.found ifor :examplethat. consumption .of A.bulls may. be materially. reduced: over standard practice because ofthe elimination :of premature .buff casualties through burning :and scorching.- This .is of considerable yimportance inasmuch `as theA cost of replacing the expendable Vfibrous vbu-l 'material is one .of the largestxsingle items of :expense in carrying out -abradingoperations. In addition to the pecuniary-economies .attendant upon the use of abu-dng wheelcon- `structed in accordance with my invention, vithas been found that the quality yof the work pro- .duced has likewise improved so that consistently good, high quality work-.may be turned out over @alonger .period of time.

yAnother lobject .of my @invention is to provide .an improved structure vior conventional fabrication of a A,buiing wheel'fto any desired -width or tread, the .wheel being .supported on a rotatable .spindle .by ,means .of my :improved `center sect-ions thereby` providing for Yimproved air Iflow and ventilation.

. Afurther object -of my invention is 'to 4provide abuffing Wheel which is economical vwith respect to manufacturing `.expense ,and vendurable in use. ,Anotherobject of ,my v.invention is to provide a ,bufng v.Wheel havingimproved ,spacer A discs hav- ,ing .a perforated :axial .flange and incorporating .therein .air pump blades for forcibly ,ejecting air to the periphery of the buff sections.

The speciflcnature .of the invention,fas -well as .other .objects andadvantages .thereof will 4,appear .to .thoseskilled vin the art from the following de- ,taileddescription ,andy the accompanying drawings,- .which .by way .of ypreferred example. only, [illustrate onesr'zecirlc embodiment .of the invention.

On 'the drawings:

v'l'igure 1 is lra .fragmentaryplan view, showing the completed bufrig Wheel assembly.;

. Figure 2 ,is across-sectional view .taken substantially .on the vline ll--II of Figure 1.

"Figure -3 is a reduced scale plan view of a spacer disc before stamping operations;

Figure 4 is a iront elevation of..a,.completed spacer disc; and,

V,.Fiifcure .is a full ,plan view .o f fa..completed .spacer disc.

. As .shown .on .the drawings:

.This ,invention twill be described, andIill-ustrated .in/.connection with its application to'an abrading wheel .employing .polishing `.elements Vformed .of .fabricmaterial It will, .of course, be understood `by.,tl1ose...skilled .in the art that the .principles-of this invention are equally applicable to abrading devices embodying different structural material.

As best shown on Figures l and 2 a self-cooling buing wheel I is indicated which rotates as a unit with spindle I2. The bufng wheel assembly is built up from a plurality of spacer plates II which are mounted on a reduced portion I2a of spindle I2 and are clamped in rrn assembly by a cover plate I4 and a retainer plate I6. Removably supported and centered on the peripheries of spacer plates I I are bui sections I3. Said buff sections I3 comprise an annular bufiing surface as at I1. The fabrication and characteristics of the buff material correspond to any of the various types of buffing sections well known in the abrading art as, for example, sections made up of a laminated structure of bias cotton sheeting fabric or the like.

The end of the spindle I2 may be threaded to receive a nut I8 which is tightened as necessary to clamp the retainer plate I5 which there- 'by engages the periphery of the outermost spacer plate Ii which, in turn, bears against other spacer plates II by pressure engagement with the buff sections I3 and a plurality of enlarged washers I9, the innermost of which engages the periphery of the cover plate i4 which is shouldered against the spindle I2, thereby locking the wheel to the spindle.

The retainer plate I6 originally takes the form of a round metal plate in which a plurality of holes 2| may be formed by punching or drilling preferably on a common axis concentric with the axis of rotation and radially spaced so as to be equidistant from one another. The perforated plate I6 is then shaped, preferably by a method of die stamping, to take a flanged cup conguration as may be seen in Figure 2. In addition to taking on the general configuration outlined by a flanged cup, the portions of the retainer plate I 6 surrounding one side of each of the holes 2I are flared outwardly to define a plurality of semi-sperical scoops as at 22. Since the scoops 22 surround the holes 2i, it will be apparent that counterclockwise rotation of the buffing wheel I 0, using the plane of reference of Figures 1 and 2, will cause air to be caught in the scoops 22 which will forcibly drive or pump the air through the holes 2I into the interior of the bufing wheel I3.

Referring now to Figures 3, 4 and 5, a spacer plate II is indicated which originally takes the form of a round blank I I a of sheet or plate metal as shown on Figure 3. A plurality of holes 23 are formed in the blank I Ict by punching, drilling or other appropriate means. Holes 23 are radially spaced so as to be equidistant from one another and are disposed on a common center line axis defined by a circle drawn concentrically with the periphery of the blank Ila.

A center hole 24 is also formed in the blank Ila by drilling, punching or other appropriate method.

A plurality of openings 26 are formed by bending or flaring the ns IIb inwardly from the face of the blank IIa (Figure 5). Each of the ns IIb preferably define an essentially plane trapezial area bounded on one side by a bend line lying on a radial axis, bounded on the opposite side by a cut line spaced a predetermined distance from the bend line on a second radial axis and bounded on both lends by a pair of cut lines lying on concentric circles spaced a predetermined distance from the center of blank llla.

Fins IIb are acutely inclined with respect to the plane defined by the blank I Ia so as to form an included angle which is preferably about 25, as may best be seen on Figure 4. It will be observed that the peculiar structure of the spacer plate II permits the ns I Ib to operate as an air pumping mechanism whenever the builing wheel I0 is caused to rotate. Thus, air previously introduced into the interior of the buing wheel I0 is subjected to an increase in pressure.

Blank I Ia is further die stamped to take on the dish-like configuration best seen in Figures 5 and 6. It will be seen that the blank I Ia is bent inwardly on a predetermined peripheral axis as at 28 (Figure 4) to dene an axial flange IIc. Axis 28 is preferably located by constructing a line substantially tangent to the innermost peripheries of holes 23 and concentric with the periphery of the blank II a. The axial line of bend at 28 extends slightly within the tangential axis def-ined by the holes 23 to insure that the holes 23 will extend to the bottom of the axial flange Ilc. The dish-like conguration is completed by bending blank I I a outwardly on a peripheral axis as at 29 to denne a radial flange I Id. Axis 29 is preferably located by constructing a line slightly inside of the outermost peripheries of the holes 23 and concentric with the periphery of blank IIa thereby insuring that the holes 23 extend completely across the width of the axial flange I I c. It will be apparent that the holes 23, after die stamping in the manner described, will assume more or less elliptically shaped openings as may best be seen on Figure 5.

Radial flange IIcZ is further die stamped with a series of embosses comprising a plurality of upper portions 3| and lower portions 32. The embossed upper portions 3| are arranged in spaced radial alignment so as to come in registry with the holes 23. This arrangement permits the bent shoulder portion 33 lying between the upper portions 3| and the lower portions 32 of the embosses to form a plurality of channels 34 (Figures 2 and 4) which are defined when the oversized washers I9 engage the bearing face formed by the lower embossed portions 32. It should be noted that they channels 34 place the interior of the buing wheel I0 in communication with the spaces lying between the bufling sections I3.

A hub II is also formed in blank IIa by bending the peripheral portion surrounding center opening 24 inwardly as is indicated in Figures 4 and 5. Center opening 24 is preferably held within a rather close dimensional tolerance so as to snugly receive the reduced portion I 2a of the spindle I2 (Figure 2) permitting the hub IIe to bear against the spindle I2 thereby lending considerable support to the bufng wheel structure.

In operation, this wheel displays greatly improved ventilating characteristics. Once the bufng wheel I0 is set in operation, the air scoops 22 pump air into the interior of the bufiing wheel structure. 'I'he interior, of course, comprises a plurality of chambers defined by the individual dish-like spacer plates II and these chambers are in communication with one another through the openings 26. Since the cover plateV I4 is closed, the :air pumped into the buing wheel interior has no altvernativebut to seekescape radially outward to the peripheral buiiing surface I7. The air pumped into the buning wheel interior is subjected to an additional increase in pressure by virtue of the pumping action of the fins IIb.

The coaction of the scoops 22 and the nns IIb results in the establishment of a substantial pressure gradient between the air in the interior of the bufng wheel and the ambient air. Therefore, the air under pressure escapes through the holes 23 into the buff sections I3. inasmuch as the buff sections I3 are quitedense, it Will be apparent that only a small portion of the entrained air will seep through the main body portion of the buff sections I3. A far greater proportion of the pressured air will pass through the holes 23 and through the channels 34 from whence the escaping air stream will be directed between the buff sections I3 against the peripheral buing surface I'I. This phenomenon is, of course, highly desirable since the buffing surface is thus thoroughly Ventilated and operating temperatures are drastically reduced. The practical results of using a buiing wheel embodying the structural features of this invention are indeed commendable. It has been found that bung sections used on a wheel constructed in accordance with my invention enjoy a service life from about 40 to 60% longer than with conventionally cooled bufng wheels. Actual laboratory tests reveal that unit production per buiiing section has risen approximately 150% when a bufiing wheel embodying my invention is employed.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I have described a novel, improved, selfcooling bufng wheel which not only provides means for pumping air into the interior of the buifing wheel structure, but causes the pressure of the air within the interior of the bufng wheel structure to be greatly increased by the pumping action of blades formed in the center spacer plates whereby air is forcibly ejected outwardly to the peripheral buiiing surface.

It Will, of course, be understood that Various details of construction may be modified through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims and the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a sectional bufling wheel, a rotatable spindle, a plurality of buff rings, a composite supporting, retaining, air-pumping hub member made of stamped sheet metal for each of said buff rings, each of said hub members having an apertured hub to receive said spindle, an annular supporting means spaced concentrically and outwardly thereof to carry one of said buff rings radially with respect to said spindle, and a at body portion between said supporting means and said apertured hub, a plurality of axially oiset vanes in each of said fiat body portions forming air pumping blades to pressurize air in the interior of said wheel and force and direct same radially outwardly, said annular supporting means having a plurality of radially extending air iiow passages formed therein to carry the pumped air between the buff rings, said hub member having an opening underlying each vane forming an axial air flow passage through said body portion and clamping plate means to retain said buff section units in corotatable assembly with said spindle, said clamping plate means including outwardly extending air scoops forming air pressurizing elements to force air axially under pressure into the interior of said bufling wheel for further pressurization and redirection radially outwardly past said buff rings by said air pumping blades in each of said hub members.

2. A spacer plate for an assembly of buff rings. comprising a sheet material disk portion having a central bore to receive a spindle, an annular supporting means spaced outwardly from and concentrically with said central bore to form an annular support for a buff ring, said disk portion having a Vane struck out therefrom at an oblique inclination to form an impeller overlying an aperture, said inclined Vane being disposed on said disk portion to impel Ventilating fluid both axially and radially of the spacer plate, said supporting means having radially ex tending air flow passages formed therein to pass the radially directed fluid to the buing ring, said vaned disk portion forming a stage of a multistage axial compressor for a bui-ling ring assembly.

3. A spa-cer plate for supporting a buff ring section in a sectional bufng wheel, comprising a sheet material disk portion having a central bore to receive a spindle, an axial flange extending concentrically from said disk portion to form an annular support for a buff ring, said disk portion having a vane struck out therefrom on a radial line of bend, said vane overlying an aperture at an acute inclination to said disk portion to impel Ventilating air both axially through the aperture and radially to- Ward said axial ange, said axial flange being ported to pass Ventilating air to the surrounding buff ring, said vaned disk portion thereby forming a stage of a multistage axial compressor for the sectional bulng Wheel as well as a centrifugal air pump.

4. In a sectional abrading wheel; an assembly of spacer plates each comprising a disk portion having a central bore to receive a rotatable spindle, an axial flange extending concentrically from said disk portion, and a spacer ring extending radially outward from said ange; an annular abrading element carried on the axial flange of each spacer plate and laterally positioned by the adjacent spacer ring, said flange and ring providing air ports for Ventilating said abrading element; said disk portion of the spacer plates having vanes set obliquely thereto and overlying apertures formed therein, said oblique vanes disposed on said disk portion to impel Ventilating fluid both axially through said apertures and radially through said ports, thereby to combine multistage axial compression with centrifugal compression for substantially uniform cooling of said abrading elements; and clamping means for securing the sections of the abrading wheel including a clamping plate ported to admit air to the inlet side of the vaned spacer plates.

SAMUEL GOLDBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,573,961 Zucker Feb. 23, 1926 2,087,012 Zimmerman July 13, 1937 2,106,610 Kreilick et al Jan. 25, 1938 2,110,494 Zimmerman Mar. 8, 1938 2,136,747 Levoy Nov. 15, 1938 2,140,208 Murray Dec. 13, 1938 2,187,602 Hague Jan. 16, 1940 

